There are a lot of misconceptions about Botox. We’re setting the story straight and dispelling the biggest Botox myths out there.

We’ve all encountered a terrible texting Facebook photo of ourselves – tagged by a friend who obviously doesn’t understand the rules that these things have to be approved. Before you know it, you’re in front of the mirror, stretching and pulling at your skin, trying to imagine what you’d look like if you had worn sunscreen every day since birth while bathing in coconut oil.

But then you realize that anti-aging skin care is advancing by the minute, and there’s someone who knows how to take years off your face with a simple injection. Of course, as with all advancements in medicine, there are always doubts, rumors and stories.

Does it actually work? Will I turn into the Joker with those crazy brows? What in the world do the Real Housewives do to their face and can I get the opposite of that?

Austin Botox Myths

When it comes to preventative wrinkle treatments, or topping them from forming alltogether, there is nothing out there like Botoxor Dysport. These two neurotoxins are like Pepsi and Coke, and both do the job quite well.

My Austin Botox clients have come to me with some interesting questions over the years. Listed are some of the common Botox misconceptions.

1. Botox can be used anywhere on the face.
While it may seem like Botox can be used all over the face, there are only certain areas where it works. People confuse Botox with cosmetic filler all the time. Botox relaxes a muscle, while filler actally deposits something into the face. They are totally different.

There’s a filler and injectable to treat just about every line and wrinkle on the face, but Botox cannot be used for everything. Common areas we treat are: 11’s, forehead, crows feet, upper lip, chin, platysmal bands and angular depressor.

2. It works immediately.
Because Botox acts on the nerves, that control muscle, that makes the wrinkle-forming expression, it takes time. This means it isn’t something you see right away. I have had clients tell me they can feel it working right away Maybe there are rare unicorns that this happens for. I’m not one of those. It takes typically anywhere from three to five days for it to set in before you notice results, with one to two weeks to see the full effect.

3. You can never develop an allergy to Botox.
There are rare cases. Botox allergies are not something you hear of very often. And even if someone gets a rash or illness, scientists find it hard to determine sometimes if the allergy is the Botox or what the office used to dilute the Botox. This is why you go somewhere reputable.

4. If you workout a bunch you’ll need way more Botox
I’ll admit, I have seen this happen with cosmetic fillers. When it comes to Botox or Dysport, whether you’re a workout fiend or a couch potato, you can rest assured that you are all equal in Botox’s eyes. The degree of your lines and wrinkles is all that matters here.

5. Botox & Dysport come from the manufacturer in liquid form.
Nope. Botox comes in a vial with a little bit of powder in the bottom. Sometimes it even looks like the vial is empty, the powder is so fine. Botox is sent to your doctor as a freeze dried powder and then mixed with sterile saline so that it is able to be injected.

It is this step that varies from Doctor to Medspa. Our office follows strict Allergan guidlines for reconstitution. Some are not so forthcoming. Botox is expensive, and some over dilute to get more money out of that tiny vial.

6. You can never become immune to Botox.
Oh, its totally possible to develop resistance to Botox. Your body can form antibodies to it after repeat injections. This is a total bummer if it happens to you, but I have found that switching from Botox o Dysport, or Dysport to Botox, usually does the trick. The two products are different enough to counter act a tolerance.

7. Botox is the same exact thing as botulinum found in food.
While it’s sometimes thought that Botox is the same as the bacteria that causes botulism, Botox is the isolated toxin, not the entire bacteria. It’s botulinum all fancied up in a lab.

8. If you have a facelift, blepharoplasty or browlift, you’ll never need to get Botox.
These surgeries address loose muscle, skin and tissue, as well as displaced fat. Botox works on the nerves and muscles that cause wrinkle formation from expression. One can be done without the other and having one procedure doesn’t exclude you from ever needing the other. Most doctors recommend continuing with Botox even if you’ve had surgery.

I do have 2 clients that have had their procerus muscle (glabella) cut while undergoing a facelift. This makes the 11’s permanently go away. Plus, no one will ever know when you’re angry.

9. Botox won’t do anything for deep set lines on the forehead.
Despite the fact that it’s an off-label use, Botox can work wonders on deeply etched lines in the forehead. I tell people the truth. If you have deep forehead lines, it will most likely take multiple rounds of treatment and time before the muscles become weak enough to really soften the lines.

10. Anyone who is injecting Botox must be trained, right?
As with any type of cosmetic procedure, you should only trust your face (and your body) to someone with experience. Just because you show up at a place and someone has a needle in their hand, does not mean that person is an experienced (or even qualified) injector. They won’t tell you.

There are places here in Austin allowing the front desk girl to inject after a 2 week class. Good times.

10. Anyone who is injecting Botox must be trained, right?Rumor has it that once you get Botox you won’t be able to express any emotion ever again. Not true! If done naturally, Botox will allow you to look great and still express emotions – especially happiness (which you’ll feel all the time because you look ah-ma-zing).

Angry emotions that cause furrowing of the brow will be diminished. That’s good news because studies show that the fewer negative emotions you display, the less unhappiness you feel. There are also studies that say this can help with depression. Cool!